Documented Events in the Life of Morihei Ueshiba

by Stanley Pranin

1883
Morihei Ueshiba born December 14 in Tanabe, Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture)
1900
Moves to Tokyo in September, starts stationery store
1901
Briefly studies Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu Jujutsu
1903
Marries Hatsu Itogawa, a distant relative, in Tanabe
Joins 61st Army Infantry Regiment of Wakayama, late December
1905
Departs for Manchurian Front (Russo-Japanese War)
1906
Discharged from army, returns to Tanabe
1908
Receives certificate from Yagyu-ryu Jujutsu
1910
Travels to Hokkaido
1911
First daugher born (Matsuko)
1912
Leads settlers from Kishu to Hokkaido (Aza-Shirataki, Kamiyubetsu villege, Mombetsu County)
1915
Meets Sokaku Takeda (Daito-ryu jujitsu) at Hisada Inn in Engaru
1917
First son born (Takemori), July
1918
Serves as town councilman in Kamiyubetsu village, June 1918-April 1919
1919
Leaves Hokkaido in December due to father's illness
Turns land and property over to Sokaku Takeda
1920
Meets Onisaburo Deguchi of Omoto religion in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture
Father (Yoroku) dies in January
Returns to Tanabe
Moves with family to Ayabe (site of Omoto religion)
Builds "Ueshiba Juku" dojo
Second son born (Kuniharu), August
First son dies (Takemori), August
Second son dies (Kuniharu), September
1921
Third son born (Kisshomaru - birth name Koetsu), June
1922
Mother (Yuki) dies
Sokaku Takeda visits Ayabe along with family to teach, staying from circa April 28 to September 15
Receives "kyoji dairi" (teaching assistant) certificate from Takeda (September)
1924
Goes to Mongolia with Onisaburo Deguchi with goal of establishing a utopian community. (February to July) The party, led by Onisaburo Deguchi, including Ueshiba, is captured and held prisoner by the Chinese military for plotting the overthrow of the existing government. Released after short period of internment through intervention of Japanese consulate and returned to Japan.
1925
Gives demonstration in Tokyo for former Prime Minister Gombei Yamamoto at Isamu Takeshita's residence
First vision
1927
Moves to Tokyo with entire family
Establishes temporary dojo in billiard room of Count Shimazu's mansion in Shiba, Shirogane in Sarumachi
1928
Moves to Shiba, Tsunamachi, site of temporary dojo
1929
Moves with family to Shiba, Kuruma-cho, sets up temporary dojo
1930
Moves to Shimo-Ochiai in Mejiro
Jigoro Kano of Judo observes demonstration by Ueshiba in Mejiro dojo and dispatches several students from Kodokan, including Minoru Mochizuki, to study
1931
Dedication of Kobukan dojo in Ushigome, Wakamatsu-cho
1932
Budo Sen'yokai (Society for the Promotion of Martial Arts) is established with Ueshiba as its first head
1933
Technical manual "Budo Renshu" published
1935
Film documentary of Aikido Budo made by Asahi Newspaper Company in Osaka. Only known pre-war film of Morihei Ueshiba (Available from Aikido Journal)
1937
Ueshiba's name appears in enrollment book of Kashima Shinto-Ryu
1938
Technical manual "Budo" published
1939
Invited to instruct in Manchuria
1940
Attends martial arts demonstration in Manchuria commemorating 2600th anniversary of Japan
Second Vision
1941
Gives demonstration at Sainenkan dojo on imperial grounds for members of the imperial family
Teaches at military police academy
Invited to Manchuria to instruct during University Martial Arts week
Becomes martial arts advisor for Shimbuden and Kenkoku universities in Manuchuria
1942
Name "Aikido" becomes official and is registered with Ministry of Education
Invited to Manchuria as representative of Japanese martial arts to attend Manchuria-Japanese Exchange Martial Arts demonstrations in commemoration of 10th anniversary of Manchurian Independence (August)
Moves to Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture
Kisshomaru Ueshiba becomes Director of Kobukai Foundation
Third vision.
1943
Aiki Shrine built in Iwama
1945
Kobukai Foundation ceases activity due to post-war ban on martial arts
Iwama dojo completed
1948
Hombu Dojo moves to Iwama, office opened in Tokyo
Kisshomaru Ueshiba becomes Director of Aikikai Foundation
1949
Regular practice resumes at Tokyo dojo
1955
To Osaka for several weeks to instruct in dojo of Bansen Tanaka
1956
Hombu Dojo moves back to Tokyo from Iwama
Several foreign ambassadors invited to public exhibition
1958
U.S. television documentary "Rendezvous with Adventure" filmed (Available from Aikido Journal)
1960
Receives Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from Japanese government
1961
Invited to Hawaii by Hawaii Aikikai (February)
Television documentary made by NHK company (Available from Aikido Journal)
All-Japan Student Aikido Federation established with Ueshiba as president
1963
First All-Japan Aikido Demonstration (October)
1964
Receives Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, as Founder of Aikido
1968
New Hombu Dojo building completed
1969
Gives final demonstration January 15 at Kagami Biraki celebration
Dies April 26
Ashes buried at Kozanji, Tanabe
Hair preserved at Iwama, Kumano Dojo, Ayabe and Aikikai Hombu Dojo
Made honorary citizen of Tanabe and Iwama
Wife, Hatsu, dies in June

Aikido History | OGI Aikido

Abridged from Encyclopedia of Aikido (Stanley Pranin, Aiki News/Aikido Journal)